Basehor teen’s mother: Accident rumors false

As a Basehor teen continues to be in critical condition at Children's Mercy Hospital, her mother spoke last week about rumors circulating about her daughter.

April Floyd, Kali Floyd's mother, said there was speculation that Kali - who was injured Aug. 23 when she fell out of a moving vehicle - was car surfing, drunk and had narcotics in her system at the time of the accident.

April said the rumors were false. Although blood samples did show traces of drugs, the drugs were caffeine and prescription ibuprofen.

"They don't know what happened," April said about Kansas Highway Patrol officials working the case. "They don't know how she fell out of the car."

About 8:20 p.m. Aug. 23, Kali Floyd, who is 16 and a junior at Basehor-Linwood High School, was a passenger in a 2001 Ford driven by Jessica Lynn Brown, who is 18. Floyd fell out of the vehicle, which was headed east on Kansas Highway 32 at 158th Street, or County Road 2.

Brown graduated from BLHS in May.

"I know Kali and I know Kali wears her seatbelt, so I don't know what happened," April said.

The KHP's initial report states Floyd fell out of the vehicle "for an unknown reason."

Calls have been placed to the KHP for more information about the accident, but the calls have not been returned.

This past week, April said her daughter was in critical condition in the ICU unit at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

"Today has been pretty good day so far," April said on Sept. 3. "She shook her head 'yes' a couple times."

According to April, her daughter's injuries have all been skull fractures.

Kali needed a shunt put in her brain to relieve excess spinal fluid to give her brain more room to heal, April said.

In the days after the accident, Kali was able to speak and told her mother she didn't remember anything about the accident.

Kali's condition worsened Aug. 26 and she was no longer able to speak. This past week, however, Kali had voluntary movement again. And when asked questions, she was able to nod her head.

April said prayers for her daughter have been working, that she appreciates the prayers that have been said and asks for them to continue.

At the same time, she hopes the rumors cease. April contacted the high school about Kali's condition and information about Kali was presented to the students by faculty after the accident.